The History of the St. Bernard Dog.
The real ancestors of the St. Bernard were the herding dogs in Switzerland. These include the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, as well as other hunting dogs and watchdogs. Record of them, was first found at the hospice which is located at the Great St. Bernard Pass. First reports of the dogs’ presence at the pass date as far back as the 17th century. They were loyal companions monks living at the monastery. An avalanche killed of many of the dogs used for breeding in the late 18th century, and thus, the classic St. Bernard looked very different from today’s St. Bernies. To be able to further the breed, the remaining dogs were crossed with other dogs, however, in the process their usefullness as rescue dogs was pretty much lost. The St. Bernard is among the heaviest and largest dog breeds in the world and amongst its other canine breeds.
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